十門分別

The Hua-yen sect established them to explain a Sūtra, so that a true and genuine understanding can be reached:

1. The general explanation of the title ( 總釋名題 ).
2. The causes and conditions for the arising of the teaching ( 起教因緣 ).
3. The division in which the Sūtra is included and the Vehicle to which it belongs ( 藏乘攝屬 ).
4. The examination of the depth of the meaning and the principle ( 義理深淺 ).
5. The expression of the teaching-substance ( 能詮教體 ).
6. The identification of the appropriate individuals able to receive the teaching ( 所被機宜 ).
7. The distinguishing of the penetration of the principle and its implications ( 宗趣通別 ).
8. The determination of the time ( 說時前後 ).
9. The history of the transmission and translation ( 歷明傳譯 ).
10. The specific explanation of the meaning of the text ( 別解文義 ).

Tien-tai sect has a similar way to explain a Sūtra, which is called the Five Esoteric Meanings or the Five Profound Meanings.